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Idaho State University to offer new 3-D animation and modeling courses

May, 2, 2016

POCATELLO—Kirk Young, adjunct professor at Idaho State University, has started a new 3-D animation course at ISU, giving ISU students more chances to become digital artists.

“After 22 years of making games I feel like I’ve pretty much run the course of things I wanted to do,” Young said. “I want to share my love of games, game making and the foundations of what it takes to be a digital artist.”

“3-D modeling and animation are a foundation skillset of the digital artist,” Young said. “Understanding the software and what it takes to model and animate can help students to understand the world we live in. Today’s content creators must use every tool available to them to construct professional-level work.”

In the past, Young worked for major game companies including Atari, Cryptic Studios, Destineer Studios and Pipeworks. He has developed games for Coin-Op, PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 the PC and the WiiU. Some of the big games Young helped develop were "San Francisco Rush" (Coin-OP & N64), "City of Heroes and Villains" (PC-MMORPG)), “Zumba Fitness”, “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” (Wii).

The new 3-D animation course is in addition to another 3-D modeling course currently offered at ISU and both will be submitted to the curriculum board this fall. This will make the 3-D courses easier for students to find and register on Bengalweb. The 3-D courses have been available to students as experimental courses. 3-D modeling will be available to students in Idaho Falls for the first time in fall 2016.

Classes for 3-D modeling will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. Classes for 3-D Animation will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.